What If My Natural Drainage Canal Cannot Be Fully Catheterized?

Feb 25, 2011

To get the full benefit of Canaloplasty, it is important for your surgeon to cannulate the full 360 degrees of Schlemm’s canal, dilate the canal with viscoelastic, and stent it open with a suture. The inability to complete any one of these elements (say, from prior scarring of the canal) can limit the effectiveness of the surgery. However, even if a full Canaloplasty procedure cannot be completed, your surgeon can most likely convert to either a traditional trabeculectomy or viscocanalostomy. A recent study confirmed that, while not as effective as Canaloplasty, viscocanalostomy can significantly reduce the pressure in the eye providing for some protection from glaucoma.

Canaloplasty FAQ Video Playlist

David Richardson, MD

Medical Director, San Marino Eye

David Richardson, MD is widely recognized as one of the top cataract and glaucoma surgeons in the US and is among an elite group of glaucoma surgeons in the country performing the highly specialized canaloplasty procedure. Morever, Dr. Richardson is one of only a few surgeons in the greater Los Angeles area that performs Micropulse® "Cyclophotocoagulation" (MP3) glaucoma laser surgery. Dr. Richardson graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of Southern California and earned his Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the LAC+USC Medical Center/ Doheny Institute. Dr. David Richardson is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Keck School of Medicine of USC. Twice weekly, he treats veterans at the VA Greater Los Angeles Veterans Healthcare System. → Learn more about Dr. David Richardson